Automatic saliva key for trombones



1943- w. H. MAXWELL 2,446,378

AUTOMATIC SALIVA KEY FOR TROMBONES Filed Feb. 16, 1946 Inventor 7491/127??? 1 2. Maxwef/I Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE AUTQMATIC SALIVA KEY FOR TROMBONES William H. Maxwell, Elberton,Ga.

Application February 16, 194$,SerialNo. 648,137

8 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to certain structural refinements andimprovements susceptible of being incorporated in a conventional slidetrombone'and has reference in particular to an improved moisture releasevalve or key.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the outer U-slide of a tromboneis provided on its bend with a so-called water key. Ihis is a simplevalve with a cork operating against a relief seat,

said valve being on an arm and said arm being pivotally mounted on thebend and provided with a suitable finger key. This water key, in actualpractice is opened by hand whenever the user deems it advisable to drainthe slide. Due to its position and construction it is difficult ofaccess although it is susceptible of skillful operation by longexperienced performers, it is possessed of considerable nuisance valueto beginners and others who find it diiiicult to handle while playing.

The present invention has to do with a saliva or moisture relief valveof a similar construction located also on the bend of the U-slide, meansbeing provided for automatically tripping and opening of the valve at apredetermined stage, and additional means being provided to cushion themechanical action of parts and elements to render the overall resulteffective and conveniently reliable.

'In carrying out the principles of the invention I'have found itexpedient and practicable to provide a curvature trip finger or cam,this being mounted on the terminal of one of the limbs of" the innerrelatively stationary slide, saidfinger coacting with a release pin andsaid pin being carried by the cork equipped valve cup in order toaccomplish the desired results in timed relationship,

Another object of the invention is to provide special spring containingcuffs these to telescopically receive the inner adjacent ends of theparallel limbs of the U-slide, these springs constituting cushioningelements and also serving to let the per-former know approximately whenthe U-slide has been pulled in to a point sufficient to trip themoisture release valve.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become morereadily apparent from the following description on the accompanyingillustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a trombone in which the U-slide isconstructed with a so-called parts are all conventional.

automatic saliva or moisture release valve constructed inaccordance withthe specific principles of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary viewfpartly in section and partly inelevation, of the-inner end portions of the innerand outersections-whichgo to make up the complete slide.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view-showing, in section, the bendof the U-slide and detailing the construction of the valve 'and'tripmeans.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters itwill'be seen thatthe horn, generally speaking, 'is made up or theb'ellequipped section or unit A and the so-czilled swingable and shiftableslide unitB. Theilatter is detachable as a unit from the part -A and initself composed of a so-called'inner slide 5 :and a companion relativelyshiitable outer slide or so-called U-Slide B. The shank 1 on the innerslide is detachably connected with a socket fitting on the section A asindicated in Figure l a'nd a socket 3 serves to accommodate thesh'arlkpfthe cup'mouth-piece 9. The spaced parallel tubular limbs In and f I arejoinedasat [2. These It 'isito be notedfin Figure 2 thatcuffelike'sleevesior adapters 31-are provided as a part of thepresentinvention and these surround the inner end portions of-the arms or limbsH) and H and rest against the elbow .fittings [4. These sleeves serve toaccommodate coiled cushioning and buffer springs 15 which serve in amanner to behereinafter more specifically set forth.

The relatively shiitable U-slide 6 includes tubularlimbsor arms Hijoinedattheir outer or right hand ends by the customary U-bend 1'1. This partHis-provided withthe usualoutstanding drain hole It for drainage of:saliva, and moisture. This part it constitutes the .usual drain holeand valve seatcombined. .The valve comprises a cup [9 with a cork padllllocated therein and engaging the valveseat. Thecup is carried on an arm'2! and the arm is'hingedly mountedasat 22 on the bend. A closing Spring23 is provided and this is aleaf-type spring and one end is fastened byset-screw 24 on the mount The other-end of the spring is attached to thecup. Also as brought out in'Figure 3, the cup provided with anintegralrpin or stem which constitutes an actuating element and thisisindicate'd at 26. It is formed integral with the central part of thecup and extends into and'interiorly beyond 'the'valve seat I8. Thelinnerend thereof coacts with the .curvate trip or cam"?! on the limb H. Thepin serves not only as an actuating element but also as a mount for thecork 20. That is to say, the cork can be fitted on the threaded portion28 thus obviating the necessity of gluing the cork in the cup as isordinarily done. Thus, the pin has a double acting feature in that itserves as a retainer for the cork and also as the actuating member foropening and closing the valve. This opening and closing movement isaccomplished by the cam coaction of the trip or trigger finger 21 withthe inner end of said pin.

Referring again to the bufier springs I5, these not only function ascushioning elements, but primarily as warning means. That is to say, asthe arms l6 telescope into these sleeves l3 and rest against thesprings, the springs are put under compression. When a certain stage ofcompression is reached, this indicates that the trigger or trip finger21 has now reached the pin 26 and is about to press against same and toforce the moisture valve open. Hence, the spring means is both a signaland warning as well as a cushioning feature.

- The normal operation of the U-slide on the inner slide section duringregulation play does not operate the moisture valve means. When,however, the slide 6 is completely in and the arms l6 compress thesprings I5, the coils conlel tubular limbs, an outer U-slide havingcorresponding tubular limbs telescopically receiving and slidable uponsaid first named limbs, the bend of said U-slide being provided with amoisture drain hole, a spring pressed Valve coactin with and normallyclosing said hole, an actuating element mounted on said valve extendinginteriorly into the bend by way of said drain hole, and a coaotingelement on the adjacent end of one of the limbs of said inner slideengaged for operation with said first-named element.

3. In a trombone of the class described, a slide embodying an innerslide including spaced parallel tubular limbs, an outer U-slide havingcorresponding tubular limbs telescopically receiving and slidable uponsaid first named limbs, the

bend of said U-slide being provided with a moistinue to compress until apredetermined stage ings and description, is for the purpose ofillustration only and that this invention includes all modifications andequivalents which fall within the scope of the adjoined claims.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the device will be quiteapparent to those skilled in this art. A-more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a trombone, a standard type slide embodying inner and outertelescoping slides, the outer slide being a customary U-slide, saidU-slide being provided in its bend with a moisture drain hole, anexteriorly arranged spring closed valve coacting with and normallyclosing said hole, and coacting means between the inner slide drain holeand valve for opening the valve, under predetermined circumstances andat a predetermined stage of relative movement of said slides, whereby toautomatically drain moisture by way of said I drain hole.

2. In a trombone of the class described, a slide embodying an innerslide including spaced paralture drain hole, a spring pressed valvecoacting with and normally closing said hole, an actuating elementcarried by said valve extending interiorly into the bend by way of saiddrain hole, and a reciprocatory element on the adjacent end of one ofthe limbs of said inner slide coacting with said actuating element, saidlast named element being in the form of a longitudinally bowed triggerfinger.

4. In a trombone construction of the class described an inner slide unitincluding spaced parallel tubular limbs, the outer end of one of saidlimbs being provided with a projecting longitudinally bowed finger, saidfinger constituting a trip and being adapted, when in use, to slidablycontact and impart motion to an actuating element on a saliva drainagevalve.

5. As a component part of a slide construction for trombones, a U-slideincluding the customary spaced parallel tubular limbs and adjoiningU-bend, said bend being provided with a drain.

hole and an outstanding seat forming neck, an arm pivoted on said bend,a cup carried by said arm, a pad in said cup engaging said seat, and apin carried by said cup and extending into the interior of the bend byway of said drain hole and neck.

6. As a component part of a slide construction for trombones, a U-slideincluding the customary spaced parallel tubular limbs and an adjoiningU-bend, said bend being provided with a drain hole and an outstandingseat forming neck, an arm pivoted on said bend, a cup carried by saidarm, a pad in said cup engaging said seat, and a pin carried by said cupand extending into the interior of the bend by way of said drain holeand neck, and an elongated leaf spring anchored at one end on theexterior of said bend and having its opposite end connected with saidcup in a manner to press the pad against said neck.

7. In a trombone slide construction of the class described a U-slideincluding a bend having a saliva drain hole, an arm pivoted exteriorlyon said bend, a valve cup carried by said arm, said cup being providedwith a laterally projecting pin centrally mounted in said cup, said pinextending concentrically into the interior of the bend by way of saiddrain hole, said pin being screw-threaded, and a centrally aperturedcork fitting into said cup and mounted and fastened on the threadedportion of said pin, in the manner and for the purpose described.

8. In a trombone of the class described, an inner slide including spacedparallel limbs surrounded at their inner ends by sleeves, coiled springssurrounding said limbs and confiined in 5 6 said sleeves, a U-slidehaving tubular limbs slid- REFERENCES CITED able on said first namedlimbs, the inner ends of said U-slide limbs telescoping into saidsleeves, a drain valve on the U-bend, and a trip finger on The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

one of the first named limbs, together with an 5 UNITED STATES PATENTSoperating connection between the trip finger and Number Name Date valve.

1,646,059 Hebs et a1 Oct. 18, 1927 WILLIAM MAXWELL 2,071,022 Burke Feb.16, 1937

